Bag handle and the like



June 6, 1961 T. ATWOOD BAG HANDLE AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 18, 1959 INVENTOR United States Patent 2,987,239 BAG HANDLE AND THE LIKE Lamar T. Atwood, Pine Bluff, Ark, assignor to Hudson Pulp & Paper Corporation, New York, N.Y. Filed Nov. 18, 1959, Ser. No. 853,766 8 Claims. (Cl. 229-52) The present invention relates to handles, and more particularly to improved handles for use with multi-wall sacks or bags.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No. 755,164, filed August 15, 1958 and the copending application, Serial No. 840,283, filed September 16, 1959 of which I am a co-inventor and which is assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

In the packaging of granular, powdered or pulverized materials it is of particular importance that the container be sufiiciently strong to withstand rough handling during shipment and storage. Accordingly, a multi-wall bag, which is comprised of a bag tube formed of several plies of paper and closed at both ends, is particularly suited for the packaging of such materials. The handling of a filled multi-wall bag may weigh more than 200 pounds, and has been particularly awkard to move, because no adequate, simple and inexpensive handle has been available.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet strong handle for use with multi-wall sacks or bags, and the like. It it another object to provide such a handle which may be easily attached to a filled or unfilled bag or to the tube from which the bag is to be formed. It is a further object to provide a multi-wall bag with a handle attached thereto, wherein the bag is reinforced to prevent tearing when the bag is lifted by the handle. It is still another object to provide a handle attachment for bags which is inexpensive to manufacture and which may be used with the various types and sizes of multiwall bags, sacks and the like.

In the specification and the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention in handles and bags is shown and described. It is to be understood that these are not intended to be exhaustive nor a limitation of the invention, but, on the contrary, are given for the purpose of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention, its principles and the manner of carrying it out.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a filled and closed multiwall bag with handles attached thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view of the arrows 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing another handle; and

FIGURE 5 is a side view of a handle with a reinforcing cord inserted into the cuff portion of the patch strip.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a pair of handles are attached to the two side walls of a multiwall sack or bag 12. Sack or bag 12 is of the multiwall type (see FIGURE 2), and is comprised of three plies 15, 16 and 17, which are glued together throughout the zones where the handles are attached.

Each of the handles 10 is of the type shown in FIG- URE 3, and is formed by a predetermined length of twisted kraft paper, twine or cord formed into a loop portion 18 and oppositely extending curved end portions 19 and 20. The handle cord is held in place by a strip 14 of gumrned kraft paper or gummed tape which is tightly adhered to the surface of the bag wall. The handle of the general shape shown has been found to have great holding power which results from the distribution of the force components and the utilization of horizontal and vertical holding forces and force components which are developed along the curved end portions 19 and 20.

Handles 10 are applied to bag 12 by moistening the adhesive surface of the gurnmed strip 14, and then pressing the adhesive surface against the outer surface of the bag. The adhesive has sufiicient initial tack to hold the handle in place and, when the adhesive dries, the handle is firmly attached to the bag.

The gummed strip 14 is provided with a reinforcing cuff 21 along its upper edge 23. This reinforcing cufi 21 helps to prevent tearing of the strip when a filled bag is picked up. If a failure were to start at the edge 23 it would move progressively down the strip. The reinforcing cuff 21 prevents this failure from ever beginning since the folded strip is strongest along edge 23.

As indicated above, during manufacture of the bag, adhesive is applied between each ply and the next, so as to securely attach the plies together and, in effect, attach the handle to each of the plies throughout and beyond the edges of strip 14. Thus, when the bag is lifted by the two handles, the holding forces which are created are distributed vertically and horizontally, as referred to above, and are also distributed to the various plies of the bag. In this manner, all of the plies act together with the two handles providing a unitary supporting structure for the entire body of product within the bag. The particular shape of the handle and curvature of the end portions 19 and 20 maybe varied readily to provide for other conditions of use. However, the curvature shown in the drawing has particular advantage.

The specific handle of the illustrative embodiment is formed by a length of cord 15 inches long which is formed into a somewhat sinusoidal curve. The loop portion is 5 inches long in the finished handle. That is, referring to FIGURE 3, the distance between points 30 and 32 is 5 inches. The loop extends a distance of the order of 3% inches from the edge of strip 14 to the apex 34 of the loop. The ends of the loop are divergent, so that the end portions 19 and 20 are connected to the loop along two lines which converge toward the general zone where the handle is grasped. In this embodiment, the loop ends are at an angle of the order of 65 from the adjacent edge of strip 14, and the end portions diverge from each other throughout. It should be noted that the extreme ends 36 and 38 of the cord are in exact alignment and a tangent to each curve at these extreme ends is parallel to the edge of the strip 14. These extreme ends are adjacent the lower edge of the strip and the upper edge of the strip is substantially half way between the lower ends of the cord and the top of the loop 34. The strip 14 is 8%" long and the hand grasp loop 34 between the points 30 and 32 is 5" long. Hence, the distance between each of the points 30 and 32 and the adjacent end of the strip is 1%".

As best shown in FIGURE 2, the end portions of the cord are flattened so that the cord is somewhat oval in cross section, with one flat surface being held tightly pressed and crimped against the cord throughout the entire end portions 19 and 20. This construction is obtained by exerting pressure from the opposite sides of the unfilled bag when the handles are applied. The wetted adhesive is caused to thoroughly impregnate the adjacent surfaces of the cord and the side of the bag. The adhesive then dries and provides the secure attachment, as discussed above.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, the handle 40 is identical with that of FIGURES l to 3, except that the cord 42 is formed into a symmetrical curve which can be considered a true sinusoidal curve. Also, it will be Patented June 6,1961

aesaaae noted that the extreme ends 44 and 46 of the cord are at substantially the longitudinal center line of the strip 48. It is contemplated in accordance with the present invention that the exact form of the curve of the cord is varied to suit the conditions of use which are contemplated.

The flattened end portions of the cord are tightly attached to the strip, but they are free from direct attachment to the surface of the bag wall 17 (see FIGURE 2). Hence, the lift forces and the force components thereof are transmitted from the cord to the strip and thence to the walls of the bags.

If desired, the patch may be further reinforced as shown in FIGURE 5 by having a small diameter cord 48 inserted into the fold where the end 21 joins the strip 14. This reinforcing cord further strengthens the composite strip at the critical edge 23.

I claim:

1. A multiwall bag, and two handles attached thereto, said handles being positioned on opposite sides of said bag, said bag comprising a plurality of bag plies forming a bag tube, each of said handles comprising a central loop portion and oppositely extending curved end portions, said curved end portions being attached to the outer ply of said bag, each of said handles being held in position by a strip of material adhesively adhered to and overlaying said curved end handle portions and also being adhesively attached to the outer ply of said bag, said strip having a reinforced upper edge.

2. A multiwall bag having two handles attached thereto as defined in claim 1, wherein each ply of said bag in the region beneath said handle is adhesively attached to the plies adjacent thereto.

3. A handle for bags and the like comprising an adhesively coated strip and a length of cord-like material attached to said strip, said length of material having a loop portion not attached to said strip and oppositely extending curved end portions adhesively attached to said strip, said strip being attachable to the outer Wall of a bag or the like so that said curved end portions are positioned between said outer wall and said strip, said strip having a reinforced, upper edge whereby said strip is strengthened against tearing. 1

4. A handle for bags and the like as defined in claim 3 wherein said handle is arranged in sinusoidal-like shape.

5. A handle for bags and the like as defined in claim 3 wherein said strip of mtaerial is paper having a water activated adhesive coated on the side thereof adjacent to the bag.

6. A multiwall bag with a pair of handles attached thereto, said bag comprising a plurality of bag plies forming a bag tube, each of said handles having a loop portion and oppositely extending curved end portions and a strip of paper coated on one side with adhesive, said strip having a reinforced upper edge, said curved end portions of each handle being attached to one of said strips of paper by said adhesive, said strips of coated paper being attached to opposite portions of said bag and said handle loops extending beyond the edge of said bag to provide a pair of adjacent handle grips.

7. A multiwall bag with a pair of handles attached thereto as defined in claim 6 wherein a cult portion is formed on the upper edge of the strip whereby said strip is reinforced.

8. A multiwall bag as defined in claim 7 and including a reinforcing cord contained within the cuff portion of the strip whereby said strip is further reinforced against tearing.

No references cited, 

